Thank you for your interest in obtaining credentials with Gilgal Christian Community.
For those coming to plant with us but who may not have credentials, Gilgal Christian Community now offers credentials for Spiritual Care Workers, Lay-Pastors, Licensed Pastors, Ordained Pastors, and Pastor Emeritus. Please note that our credentials are specific to those engaged in Church Planting. We do not credential "Ministers" engaged in any other ministries outside of Church Planting.
Here is the good news.
Dual Membership. First, you do not have to give up your credentials with any other organization in order to apply for credentials with Gilgal Christian Community. You may apply and opt for retaining your present credentials if you so desire.
Second, if you are presently affiliated with a Gilgal Christian Community church plant, you will only have to pay a $25 application fee. Your 2015 membership fees will be waived. The same will apply to your staff pastors and Spiritual Care Workers credentials.
The regular fee for credentials is only $50 for Ordained Pastors and $25 for all other credentials.
Why do we offer credentials at such low fees? We believe that as a church planter with Gilgal you should pay this cost, the same as other church planting agencies.
What do you get for being a Gilgal Christian Community credential holder?
1. Credential Card with the correct title of "Pastor" and the name of your church.
2. Networking with other Church Planters - people who actually do what you do.
3. Access to emergency counselling through Summit Counselling.
3.Reference letters from our national office when required.
4. Spring Conference and training workshops.
5. Fall Church Planters' appreciation Banquet.
6. Monthly electronic newsletter.
It is important to note that we only be provide credentials to people who are church planting or those who have a church planting relationship with us. We are not called to credential ministries other than church planting. For this reason we will not credential “ministers”. We will only be credentialing “Spiritual Care Workers”, or people in pastoral roles, with the title of “Pastor” or “Reverend”.
Types of Credentials
Spiritual Care Worker: This credential is for workers in churches who are not pastors but who assist vitally in the plant, or in established churches, as assisting in ministry. Their function would be to minister in the areas authorized by their pastor. They could, for example, occupy the function of deacon, elder, evangelist, local prophet, worker, Christian Ed. Teacher, chaplaincy and visitation, worship, etc.)
Lay-Pastor: This is a position which describes a pastor who does not have a degree in Bible, Theology, Ministry, etc., but who is trained adequately to lead a church plant, congregation, or missional community, or who is providing vital pastoral assistance, within a ministry, under a recognized pastor.
Licensed Pastor: This describes a pastor who is leading a church plant, congregation, or missional community. In this case his ability has been recognized by the credential committee of Gilgal Christian Community.
Ordained Minister (Reverend): We will recognize and confer this credential when we are satisfied that the minister has completed an adequate formal educational which qualifies him or her to lead as a senior pastor. Ministry experience will also be considered. This will require an examination where education, ministry experience, call, character, and gifting, are all evaluated.
Pastor Emeritus (Reverend): This credential will require a minimum of twenty years of ministry (immediately prior to retirement) and is intended to credential pastors who have served their time with integrity and distinction, and who should retain a credential even without holding an ongoing or present pastoral charge or local church responsibilities. All Pastor Emeritus credential holders will be required to serve as advisors to the board and will be invited to meet together once a year to lend perspective to us as a the governing body.
For those coming to plant with us but who may not have credentials, Gilgal Christian Community now offers credentials for Spiritual Care Workers, Lay-Pastors, Licensed Pastors, Ordained Pastors, and Pastor Emeritus. Please note that our credentials are specific to those engaged in Church Planting. We do not credential "Ministers" engaged in any other ministries outside of Church Planting.
Here is the good news.
Dual Membership. First, you do not have to give up your credentials with any other organization in order to apply for credentials with Gilgal Christian Community. You may apply and opt for retaining your present credentials if you so desire.
Second, if you are presently affiliated with a Gilgal Christian Community church plant, you will only have to pay a $25 application fee. Your 2015 membership fees will be waived. The same will apply to your staff pastors and Spiritual Care Workers credentials.
The regular fee for credentials is only $50 for Ordained Pastors and $25 for all other credentials.
Why do we offer credentials at such low fees? We believe that as a church planter with Gilgal you should pay this cost, the same as other church planting agencies.
What do you get for being a Gilgal Christian Community credential holder?
1. Credential Card with the correct title of "Pastor" and the name of your church.
2. Networking with other Church Planters - people who actually do what you do.
3. Access to emergency counselling through Summit Counselling.
3.Reference letters from our national office when required.
4. Spring Conference and training workshops.
5. Fall Church Planters' appreciation Banquet.
6. Monthly electronic newsletter.
It is important to note that we only be provide credentials to people who are church planting or those who have a church planting relationship with us. We are not called to credential ministries other than church planting. For this reason we will not credential “ministers”. We will only be credentialing “Spiritual Care Workers”, or people in pastoral roles, with the title of “Pastor” or “Reverend”.
Types of Credentials
Spiritual Care Worker: This credential is for workers in churches who are not pastors but who assist vitally in the plant, or in established churches, as assisting in ministry. Their function would be to minister in the areas authorized by their pastor. They could, for example, occupy the function of deacon, elder, evangelist, local prophet, worker, Christian Ed. Teacher, chaplaincy and visitation, worship, etc.)
Lay-Pastor: This is a position which describes a pastor who does not have a degree in Bible, Theology, Ministry, etc., but who is trained adequately to lead a church plant, congregation, or missional community, or who is providing vital pastoral assistance, within a ministry, under a recognized pastor.
Licensed Pastor: This describes a pastor who is leading a church plant, congregation, or missional community. In this case his ability has been recognized by the credential committee of Gilgal Christian Community.
Ordained Minister (Reverend): We will recognize and confer this credential when we are satisfied that the minister has completed an adequate formal educational which qualifies him or her to lead as a senior pastor. Ministry experience will also be considered. This will require an examination where education, ministry experience, call, character, and gifting, are all evaluated.
Pastor Emeritus (Reverend): This credential will require a minimum of twenty years of ministry (immediately prior to retirement) and is intended to credential pastors who have served their time with integrity and distinction, and who should retain a credential even without holding an ongoing or present pastoral charge or local church responsibilities. All Pastor Emeritus credential holders will be required to serve as advisors to the board and will be invited to meet together once a year to lend perspective to us as a the governing body.
| application_for_ministerial_credentials.pdf |